Racing license
 

I live in Dayton, Ohio and want to ride some local Cat 5 crits to get my feet wet. Do I actually have to buy a license through usacycling or any other organization to race. Thanks for your input.

I do not race but a local organization has Criteriums where I patrol. They have a "day license" that is a minimum for all racers to cover their liability for insurance purposes as well I am sure to assist them with keeping the races going. I imagine a local race that is not run by any sanctioning body with no insurance would be fee less but I for one would be very hesitant about putting rubber to the road in such a situation.

you can buy a one day license at the race for $10.00, which is probably what you'll want to do if you don't know if you want to race again. A one year license costs $50.00 or $60.00 (i forget), and I believe is good for 10 races.

You can buy a one year USCF license (They expire at the end of the year, so it's not like you're buying a full year. Sucks.) at http://www.usacycling.org

If you just want to try a race, you can pay the $10 race fee for that race and I think USCF will reimburse you the $10 if you buy the year license.

Ya it is 60 dollars, unlimited races for the whole year... just have to pay entry fees...

10 dollars for a day licence that will not get you races towards upgrade though!

No, I don't think USCF refunds your one-day license. And if you forget your license at home you'll usually have to buy one and race Citizens even if you've already plunked down your annual license cash. Some places include the one-day license with the race entry fee; I didn't have to pay extra at my first race (I bought a license in time for the second -- you can do it online the day-of and print a receipt).

And upgrading is not as precise a science as all that. My buddy just went from 4 to 3 by writing a long letter to USCF about how he'd gotten all these placements at the local practice crit and how the folks who run it don't think he should be a 4 anymore...

I would do the one day passes if you are only going to do a couple and are just trying them out.

Tour de Burg, Springfield, Xenia, Ault Park are all coming up and make for good racing. Good luck.

Allison is exactly right, USCF is not persise in the way it scores things and upgrading just requires a letter to them with your race information.

For example to go from a 5 to a 4 requires 10 mass starts, I have 12 but have never placed in the top 20 to get on official placing (our races can easily be 100+ riders in the 4/5 races), 30th my best placing. Even though I could just send in a letter and upgrade.

Chris-
Are there any good group rides south of town.I'm in Kettering/Oakwood and would like to stay south if possible. Thanks

Bill

Really? I thought I heard something about this. Anyone know for sure? (I've never done it, so I could very well be wrong.)

done what, there's about 3 or 4 issues in that response.

you'll need more than a letter from your mom to get upgraded to a 2 however....

Check www.daytoncyclingclub.org and click 'rides'.

They have a schedule of group rides and I know there are some that leave from the Kettering K&G on Marshall, Bigger and Whipp, Cross Point Center, etc. There is a ride down that way at least 2-3 times a week.